with a gentle grasp on the stem of her champagne flute, veronica takes a polite sip, exhaling softly as her shoulders moved in a swift, subtle motion. her gaze shifts to the younger agent beside her, and for a fleeting moment, her expression softens, allowing a glimmer of gentleness to peer through her usual stoicism. her sister is far more equipped for the social aspects of being an agent. veronica thrives in the heat of the moment, clawing her way to the top -- business first. "well, how serious do you think it is?" veronica asks, her stoicism returning in an instant. "are your parents in attendance this evening? i would hope they are."
" they loathed this , this stupid thing their parents forced them to do . but today , demian seo had set their mind on having a peaceful evening , and if that required being their parents’ owl after that announcement , they would acquiesce . no buts , no attitudes , no stupidity ( as long as they could manage ) .
veronica kang was not a hard - to - find person , even among the wave of mingling people . she was a flame in the water , red amid a sea of whites , gorgeous as ever , stoicism and elegance radiating from her in such an alluring way it was impossible to miss her . her attitude , on the other hand , often soured her charming appearance . " yes , ma’am , " demian replied to the order , mockingly , but feigning it enough not to annoy the agent too much . " my parents— agent iryeon and doctor seo want to know how … serious is this … uhm , notice , " as soon as the words left their mouth , they realized they could have worded that better . containing a sigh in the face of their frequent failure demian bit the inside of their cheek — godforsaken scotch and its ability to make them dumber .
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neither defeat nor failure were options for veronica. the morbid video refused to replay in her mind; it served as a cautionary tale of the inherit risk of taking the serum. while she wasn't devoid of distress, her concerns were more practical — the looming threat of budget cuts and public humiliation weighs heavily. intentionally rubbing elbows with influential figures, veronica displayed no shame in her game. she was as cutthroat as the other sharks swarming the ball, her lip upturned in slight disgust at the sight of her colleague. "get it together," she demands. "you show any sign of weakness, and they will pounce."
from the pocket of her clutch, veronica retrieves her compact mirror, tapping a gentle finger against her lip with meticulous concern. "yes, collaboration," she continues. "you're in this with me, aren't you? we both know this division is the life force of the agency." with a decisive smack, she closes the compact and returns it to her purse.
"we have formidable enemies, but even stronger allies," veronica asserts. "if my — our — cover-up doesn't work, someone else will fabricate a story. you'll have the freedom to conduct your research in secret, as much as you want and whenever you want." she turns her frame to stand before her partner-in-crime, "besides, we work better in secret." veronica extends her hand forward to adjust maxime's collar, "we won't have the other agents snooping around where they aren't supposed to."
he's choking. hyperbole. regardless, the tie he wears is suffocating, or maybe it's an approaching panic attack. he hasn't had one of those in years, but anything is possible, clearly. ( the video replays behind his eyelids in full 4k resolution, haunted ) he does what he does best. lies. plasters a smile and talks and talks and tries not to be bothered by how unbothered they are supposed to look, tries not to be unnerved by how easily everything rolls off veronica's shoulders. with every passing day, it becomes more clear that she's much better suited for this position than him. unsurprising, but he's shocked anyhow.
maxime is the picture of cordiality, hands clasped in front of him to stop the tremor. " collaboration, " he echoes, grins hollowly. he's grown accustomed to stalemates and concessions in the name of mercy's greater good, accepted that there are some lines that must be crossed and some that can be simply written over. he's exhausted, frustrated, seconds from playing whistleblower. cowardice reins him in.
voice lowers, if only to ensure that anyone listening wouldn't be able to make much out. " and what of the rumor being passed around ? are you planning on staging a cover-up ? releasing a statement ? my intentions are to conduct further research. it will be easier to do so with the department standing together, rather than apart. "
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𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗌 closed, edita ( @or4cles )
𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖾 + 𝗅𝗈𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 evening, event one - governor's ball
as the crimson hue enveloped the crowd, an uneasy tension settled over the unassuming guests, causing them to twitch and squirm. clark scoffs at the uniform message all agents, regardless of rank, received, his cynicism cutting through the growing anxiety in the room. "guess they're keeping us all in the dark, literally and metaphorically," he quips -- only good ol' clark delroy laughs in times of distress. turning his profile to the intelligence agent at his shoulder, clark raises an eyebrow in anticipation. "i would assume this is all in your wheelhouse," he remarks, gesturing with a gentle hand wave towards the crowd. "so, what do you think? is someone caught somewhere they weren't supposed to be, so they pushed the big red button, or are we all in imminent danger?"
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veronica waved off the surrounding crowd, dismissing her daughter along with them. unbeknownst to her only child, the public façade of the family business concealed a web of secrets meticulously guarded by veronica. every action was calculated ; not only her own benefit for her daughter. a heavy sigh escapes, carrying with it a weight that settles underneath flesh and deep into the bone.
veronica's eyes narrow "your demeanor suggests as if i was complimenting you," she remarks coolly. "make no mistake warden, i find you rather stupid-looking." she took a sip of her champagne, her expression unapologetic. "to put it simply," she added with a wry chuckle, her eyebrows wagging slightly. absence of sympathy in her laughter, veronica continues, "but anyway, i trust you're fulfilling your duties in assuring the board that kronos is responsible for . . ." she paused, clearing her throat, "the disappearance of the agents."
he's too busy mindlessly deliberating through the panes of the nearest window when she crosses him. idling between the great clamor of a hired brass-band & the indistinct chatter filling all those other empty pockets of space. hence why he does not immediately respond, he'd tucked himself off into another world entirely. finally, steely gaze pivots toward her own. something softening around the edges. " veronica, " however impetuous, she deserved the extended greeting. he was her subordinate, after all. one should always bow their head to the oldgods even as they walked among them. " thank you for noticing. " there is no beat of confusion, he'd seen himself in too many mirrors this evening to consider a stray lipstick stain upon his cheek or the speckled remnants of a shrimp cocktail. he'd never made it a practice to eat at these sorts of events anyhow. " it's something new i'm trying. " meaning it had been a sollen excuse to not shave his face for a month and a half. palm works the side of his jaw & wisps the budding mustache, a proud gleam waxing over his visage. " adds to my mystique, don't you think? "
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to veronica, there was always a rational explanation for any occurrence. the sudden failure of the lights could have been attributed to a myriad of reasons, however a security breach was not among her initial assumptions. veronica's demeanor shifts, she snaps her neck. "i suppose that level of incompetence would be expected from you," she hissed, her words dripping with venom. "were you under the delusion that this was some sort of reward? a vacation?" veronica's tone was laced with sarcasm as she delivers her bite. "we're on the clock, vermouth."
starter status: open, event post mini plot drop.
an air of discomfort clouds vanessa, yet her grin offers a distraction — fooling those in her company. for a moment the meticulously crafted mask falters, an audible huff escapes from cherry kissed lips. vanessa watches as her father descends from the stairs, her gaze narrows. "unbelievable." she swallows what was left of her wine. the lights flicker yet the trained agent keeps her composure. vanessa glances over to her colleague, "i left my phone at coat check. any word from hq?"
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𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗌 closed, feat. utp! ( @tvrmoils )
𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖾 + 𝗅𝗈𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 evening, event one - governor's ball
effortlessly blending into her surroundings, veronica conceals the impending turmoil that threatened to disrupt the biomedical division. with precision, she ensures that her fellow agents from all divisions remained discreet about the contents of the memo, stressing that the the bond between sentinel and mercy is paramount.
seizing the opportunity to network and strengthen the ties between the two agencies, veronica navigates the governor's ball with purpose. she had little time to indulge in the festivities, intentionally disregarding those she deemed unimportant in her quest to forge and solidify alliances. as a passing waiter caught her eye, she deftly snags a champagne flute, her first drink of the night. "whatever it is, you better make it quick."
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𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗌 closed, feat. basil ( @agentsilvertongue )
𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖾 + 𝗅𝗈𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 evening, event one - governor's ball
halfway to drunk, clark's curiosity deepens. familiar with every aspect of the bar, the drinks continue to flow, fueling his inquisitive nature. glancing at his subordinate, he inquires "how does that work?" his words slightly slurred but his curiosity genuine. "you just hear any language, and it just... sticks?"
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𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗌 closed, feat. jordan ( @sp3cters )
𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖾 + 𝗅𝗈𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 evening, event one - governor's ball
"life of the party" hardly did justice to clark's presence at the governor's ball. champagne flows freely, weaving through a tapestry of conversations that bordered on debauchery, a spectacle perhaps unbecoming of such an prestigious event. bodies intertwined and shifted in a dance of desire, each seeking a closer connection.
amidst the revelry, clark sought out a familiar face, sidestepping the whirlwind of activity. "oh, come on, don't give me that look, jordan," he teased, a playful glint in his eye. his recent promotion to tactical agent had certainly bolstered his confidence. "we're in the same division now; i'm sure that warrants being on a first-name basis," he quips with a wink.
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𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗌 closed, feat. warden ( @doghoods )
𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖾 + 𝗅𝗈𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 evening, event one - governor's ball
although veronica isn't the focal point of the occasion, her demeanor suggests otherwise. the desperate longing for her father's approval and validation is evident. it manifests through her domineering behavior towards her subordinates, her iron fist rules heavy. while her commanding presence isn't entirely unusual, it now felt more oppressive than ever before. sentinel's involvement into mercy's operations grows invasive and it's veronica's desire to align herself as closely as possible with the organization's possible rebirth.
as she navigates through the building with practiced ease, veronica seamlessly blends in, not merely as an agent, but as one of the corporate elite. her eyes locked onto warden's, and her inquiry came across more as a demand than a question. "what is that on your face?" her finger pointed accusingly at the burgeoning facial hair adorning his upper lip.
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𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗌 closed, feat. maxime ( @greatpain )
𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖾 + 𝗅𝗈𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 evening, event one - governor's ball
elegance envelops the agent as she moves gracefully, natural poise exudes from her. amongst colleagues from various spheres of her career, veronica glides through the governor's ball with an air of prestige. despite the lingering weight of recent events that hung over her mind, she maintains an outward façade of composure, giving no indication of the turmoil beneath the surface. to all outward appearances, mercy was flourishing more than ever.
"it's good to see you being so cooperative," she purrs to her fellow head agent, her tone smooth, diplomatic. "if we can maintain this level of collaboration, we should be able to resolve the... desiccation error," she pauses briefly to clear her throat, masking any hint of uncertainty.
veronica smooths down a stray lock of hair at the nape of her neck, a subtle gesture of self-assurance. "i've reassured the board of the kronos lead. they'll be off our case soon enough."
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✦ 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗴 attends 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗅 𝖾𝗅𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖼𝗌 𝗀𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗇𝗈𝗋𝗌 𝖻𝖺𝗅𝗅 ( 03. 31. 2049 ) in a floor length black, feathered gown with her signature deep red lipstick. she is accompanied by her father, ceo of sentinel, and only daughter.
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veronica's disdain was palpable as she regarded the field agent before her. "not surprising for a field agent," she remarks, her tone laced with ice. "even in times of crisis, you find time to lounge around." with a deliberate tap of her pen on her tablet, veronica continues, her gaze piercing. "you're among the few who've opted out of project genesis. having a change of heart?"
jun usually didn't get distracted by sounds she heard coming from other people's offices, but the sound of classical music was one of those exceptions. standing in front of the office, jun's expression changed to one of a student caught being somewhere they shouldn't be. " um, no fire... i just... " she waved her hand around. " heard the music when i passed. i like this song. "
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urgency in every step veronica took as she navigates through the headquarters. with each stride, she exudes a sense of determined vigor, an apex predator on the prowl. recent events had pushed the biomedical wing to the brink of collapse, but veronica refuses to let it fall. even if it meant sacrificing ethics, she was resolute in her mission. for her it was about self-preservation.
mid-stride, veronica's focused path is interrupted by the younger agent. annoyance surges through her veins. "have you considered why everyone is under such stress?" she snapped, her tone sharp and demanding. "this isn't a rhetorical question, agent. i genuinely want to hear your perspective." her gaze flicks to a nearby table cluttered with games, a silent testament to past camaraderie and shared moments. fruits of their labor. "clean it up," she ordered, her voice firm ( c'mon veronica, you still have a soul ) ". . . it's better for another day."
➥ status : open + ongoing ...
➥ location : mercy's recreation center
not a full ten seconds pass when the other agent walks in before yejide scrambles to her feet and beelines towards them. " okay, so, hear me out. i know everyone's super stressed and wants to make sure they're getting stuff done and everything, and that's cool and important but i feel like people are driving themselves into the ground. " she speaks a mile a minute, her pre-prepared spiel thrown out the window the moment she had someone to deliver it to. " i'm proposing an organization-wide game night. " a finger is held up to silence them before they have a chance to respond and she looks over her shoulder at the video and board games she set up and brushed the collected dust off. " i think it has a chance to be successful, i just need support. "
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a scoff bubbles from the depths of her throat, almost offensive in its disdain. tilting her head with a peeved expression, veronica narrows one eye, "cute" her tone naturally condescending. as she tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear — a childhood quirk that lingered — she extends her hand toward the agent, motioning for him to draw nearer. "a breach in the biomedical wing? explain."
the question catches him off guard, brows knitting together. " agent absinthe, i assure you, if there had been a fire i would've raised the alarm and made my way to the nearest evacuation point, as is protocol. " it's earnest, if a little clipped; mind preoccupied with evaluating if they had, indeed, missed a key part of orientation and should actually be rounding up department heads, lest they perish within the flames... they settle on: not impossible, but unlikely. the thought is pushed aside, expression morphing into something more passive as he pulls a tablet from under an arm. " i actually came to notify you of an attempted breach. "
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the title "wife" never seemed to roll off her tongue comfortably. several years had passed since the contract was sealed, and within that time, they had brought a child into the world — a silver lining amidst their complications. "there's no one else here, deven. you can drop it," she reassured him, her voice laced with a weary sigh. whether it was her own pride refusing to let their relationship crumble or perhaps a lingering sense of concern for her husband, it remained unclear. "mercy's prized field agents found themselves in trouble once again. i'm sure you're aware," she remarked, her tone tinged with frustration. "i don't understand why we haven't replaced them with robots by now." a pause fills the tension, "i'm kidding, of course."
He really could feel a chill when he entered her office, whether it was more mental than physical, he was unsure. All he knew was that he could never unfreeze her. Her question made him take a step back for a moment. Even after their complicated feelings towards each other, he'd still tell her if there was a fire. That was probably the ironic part of it. "Forgive me for wanting to check in with my wife," He wondered if others could tell that they were hanging on by a thread, "What are you working on?"
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mercy's tapestry of agents wove together a vibrant community, each thread representing a unique background. among the colors, veronica stood as a void, cloaked in darkness that consume her every ambition, pulsating like a heartbeat. perhaps honesty was her sole redeeming quality. she didn't make an effort to conceal her privilege or connections, firmly believing that the skies would always side with the wealthy. her thought about the eclectic mix of agents around her, her disdain for colleagues like socorro simmered beneath the surface; eager to boil over at a moments notice. "i prefer it cold, it keeps the mind sharp," she quipped, her hand instinctively reaching to massage her temple. veronica's scrutiny shifted to her subordinate, pondering his demeanor. despite her irritation, she begrudgingly acknowledged his undeniable skill: agent gauze was damn good at his job for a reason. with a disdainful curl of her lip, she glanced at the sorry state of the manila folder before her, her animated expression only adding fuel to his fire. a derisive snort escaped, under her breath she muttered, "is that your idea of real music?" pushing herself up from the table, her hands planted firmly on its surface, she fixed him with a challenging stare. "do you find it amusing to disrupt my work, agent?"
absinthe, also known as the green fairy, was far more warmly spirited than agent absinthe could ever be, even with the transmogrification of seasons and the bedside manner training socorro had previously assumed requisite for all employees of their calibre. ah, well, in praise of nepotism’s follies, her eloquence probably made fatal diagnoses a fun game of wordle. he rubs his hands together. today is a new day. today is the day intrusion turns into an endearment rather than the title of a shiny new complaint for human resources to toss and turn over. ‘ i may very well set one to stop you from giving our agents hypothermia alongside their drugs, ’ he replies with such a theatric roll of his eyes that the friction sparks a fire around the sockets. or perhaps that is an impending migraine. best not to linger in his boss’s presence long enough to find out. a crumpled proposal emerges from his back pocket: a distressed scrap of manila paper bound together with toy money by a rubber band. ‘ have you considered my executive request to play some real music around these parts? i mean, all these facilities provided by our beloved sentinel, and none of them can be converted into a glam rock chamber orchestra? ‘
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